Western baseball downs Emory & Henry, 16-8, Saturday afternoon

EMORY, VA (Feb. 25) — The Western Connecticut State University Baseball Team (1-1) avenged Friday's loss to Emory & Henry College (1-5) with a 16-8 win at snowy Porterfield/Devault Field Saturday afternoon. The Colonials took advantage of an eight-run sixth inning under in the victory.

Western Connecticut State got on the board in the top of the first thanks to a two-out single by Conor Bierfeldt. Emory & Henry was able to equalize in the bottom of the frame as freshman designated hitter Bransen Christopher (Hickory, N.C.) doubled down the left field line and scored a batter later thanks to an error by the shortstop.

The Wasps opened up a 3-1 lead after the second inning. With one out and runners on second and third, senior third baseman Will Schulhof (Berryville, Va.) had a RBI ground out and junior centerfielder Eric Houff (Blacksburg, Va.) plated another run with a single through the left side.

Western tied the contest at three runs apiece in the top of the fifth on a two run shot by Mike Yates to left centerfield. E&H was able to get a run in response in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Christopher.

The sixth inning was the difference in the contest for the Colonials as they scored eight runs on four hits and took advantage of three errors by the Wasps. A two-run double down the left field line by Bierfeldt highlighted the frame for WCSU, which took an 11-4 lead.

Emory & Henry was able to get four runs in the bottom of the sixth to trim the margin to 11-8. Christopher hit his first home run in an E&H uniform, a two-out three-run shot to left centerfield. The Wasps were able to get two more base runners in the stanza, but could not plate any more runs.

Western Connecticut State added single runs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings, both on sacrifice flies. David Simone and Scott Conetta were credited with the run-scoring flyouts, respectively, as the Colonials pushed the advantage to 13-8.

In the top of the ninth, WCSU got three more insurance runs to double-up E&H on the scoreboard, 16-8. Yates homered to lead off the inning and Chris Smith hit a two-run double down the left field line to round out the scoring for the contest.

Nick Vig (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Western Connecticut State, allowing just three hits in four innings of work with four strikeouts. Junior Jessup Lambert (Fries, Va.) fell to 0-3 on the year with the loss, but struck out seven and scattered six hits across his five-inning appearance.

At the plate for the Colonials, Yates went five-for-six on the day with two home runs, four RBI and four runs scored. Bierfeldt was three-for-five with three RBI and two runs while Smith was three-of-four with three RBI and a run.

Emory & Henry was led offensively by Christopher with four RBI on two-for-four hitting and two runs scored. Senior second baseman Josh McMillian (Amelia, Va.)was two-for-five on the day with two runs and a RBI.

The Wasps and Colonials will face off on Sunday at noon in the rubber game of the series. The GoWasps.com E-Cast will be available, beginning just before first pitch.